JANUARY 2, 2006, PATCHOGUE, NY – Declaring the “dawn of a new era in Brookhaven Town,” and calling for a “Culture of Competence,” Brian X. Foley gave a rousing message of hope to a packed-house at the Patchogue Theatre as he was sworn-in as Brookhaven Town’s 68th Supervisor. 

“Our challenge is great. Our mission is clear,” said Foley from the podium.  “We must clean up this government, save taxpayer dollars, create home ownership opportunities, preserve and protect our environment and revitalize our downtowns.  I’d like to call upon those who have given up  -  to believe again,” he continued later.  “When good people believe again that they have the power to make a difference, our faith in democracy is restored.” (Editor’s note: Full text of speech attached.)

The ceremony marked the beginning of the terms for the first Democratic Supervisor and Democratically controlled Town Council in Brookhaven in 30 years.  Dignitaries present to mark the occasion included United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, United States Congressmen Tim Bishop and Steve Israel, New York State Senator Kenneth LaValle, New York State Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota, Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent
DeMarco, Suffolk County Treasurer Angie Carpenter, Suffolk County Family Court Judges Martha Luft and Marlene Budd, Suffolk County Legislators William Lindsay, Vivian Viloria-Fisher, Jonathan Cooper, Ricardo Montano, Suffolk County Legislators-Elect Louis D’Amaro, Kate Browning, and Jack Eddington and Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri along with many others.

Also present to witness the historic event was Brian’s father John Foley a former Brookhaven Town Councilman, County Legislator and community statesman, along with Brian’s wife Brenda, son Michael and daughter Bridget. 

A long-time friend and mentor of Foley’s, the Honorable Frederic Block, Justice, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York administered the oath of office to Foley, the eight other Town officials and four key staff members.  The other elected officials sworn-in were: John H. Rouse, Superintendent of Highways; Pam Betheil, Town Clerk; and Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, Kevin McCarrick, Kathleen Walsh, Constance Kepert, Timothy Mazzei and Carol Bissonette, Council members: districts one through six, respectively.  The key staff sworn-in were: Jack Schnirman, Deputy Supervisor, Lori Baldassare, Chief of Staff; Susan Henke-Brinkman, Deputy Chief of Staff; and Mark J. Grossman, Special Assistant to the Supervisor for Intergovernmental Relations (Editor’s note: bios attached for elected officials and key staff).